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Kekalainen Gets Contract Extension

by
Staff Writer
/ St. Louis Blues

ST. LOUIS – St. Louis Blues President John Davidson announced Friday that the club has extended the contract of Assistant General Manager and Director of Amateur Scouting Jarmo Kekalainen. Kevin McDonald was given a contract extension and named Assistant General Manager in addition to his Director of Professional Scouting duties.

Kekalainen has spent seven seasons with St. Louis and oversees the Blues’ participation in the National Hockey League Entry Draft. He also assists Davidson and Senior Vice President and General Manager Larry Pleau with all facets of hockey operations. He is also involved with the Blues’ professional scouting efforts. Kekalainen originally joined the Blues in September of 2002.

McDonald joined the Blues organization prior to the 2001-02 season as a professional scout. He scouted professional talent for the Blues for two seasons before the organization promoted him to Director of Professional scouting in 2003. In June 2005, he took on the responsibilities of being the General Manager of Hockey Operations for the Blues’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Peoria Rivermen. McDonald was influential in bringing Brad Boyes to St. Louis and adding depth players such as Mike Weaver and Tyson Strachan this past season.

As the Director of Professional scouting for the Blues, McDonald oversees the professional scouting department to ensure that the organization maintains a detailed profile of every player in both the NHL and AHL, as well as a familiarity of the best players in other professional hockey leagues.